on hold until

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on hold until" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that is delayed, suspended, or put aside until a certain point of time. For example: "The project is on hold until we hear back from our client."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The caller is put on hold until the call connects.

The New York Times

More than 40 executions had been put on hold until the court decided.

The Economist

Elections, long delayed, have been put on hold until after the war.

The Economist

Talks had been put on hold until the takeover went through.

Independent

The transaction was put on hold until the provenance could be worked out.

The New Yorker

I should phone and be put on hold until next Tishah b'Ab?

The New York Times

Longer races, such as 10km, should be put on hold until the young person is 16.

The Guardian

Plans for a sister ship have been put on hold until The World has sold completely.

The New York Times

It has been put on hold until after the criminal trial.

The Guardian

But the move has been put on hold until the legal issues are resolved.

BBC

Plans to hand over public toilets in Powys to community groups have been put on hold until April 2015.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "on hold until", ensure the condition or event that will release the hold is clearly defined. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity regarding when the action will resume.

Common error

Avoid using overly vague timeframes with "on hold until". Instead of saying "on hold until later", specify a date, event, or condition to provide a clear expectation for when the hold will be lifted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on hold until" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun, indicating a state of temporary suspension or postponement. Ludwig examples confirm its use to describe actions or decisions that are paused until a specific condition is met.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on hold until" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate that something is temporarily suspended, with a specified condition or time for its resumption. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, including news, science, and business. When using "on hold until", ensure clarity by specifying a precise event or timeframe. Alternatives like "suspended until" or "postponed until" can be used for stylistic variation, but maintain the clarity of the original phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suspended until

Replaces "on hold" with "suspended", emphasizing a temporary cessation of activity.

postponed until

Substitutes "on hold" with "postponed", highlighting the act of delaying something to a later time.

delayed until

Uses "delayed" instead of "on hold", focusing on the fact that something is being kept back or slowed down.

pending until

Replaces "on hold" with "pending", suggesting that something is waiting to be decided or completed by a specific date.

in suspension until

Similar to "suspended until" and highlights the state of being suspended.

in abeyance until

A more formal alternative to "on hold", indicating a temporary inactivity or suspension.

stayed until

Implies a temporary suspension of a judicial proceeding or other action.

deferred until

Similar to 'postponed', but often used in more formal contexts.

not proceeding until

Focuses on the lack of progress until a certain condition is met.

inactive until

Emphasizes the state of inactivity or dormancy.

FAQs

How can I use "on hold until" in a sentence?

Use "on hold until" to indicate that an action, decision, or process is temporarily suspended and will resume at a later point. For instance, "The project is "on hold until" funding is secured."

What are some alternatives to "on hold until"?

You can use alternatives such as "suspended until", "postponed until", or "delayed until" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "on hold" without specifying a time?

While "on hold" can be used without specifying a time, adding "until" provides clarity about when the action is expected to resume. Omitting the "until" clause can leave the situation open-ended and potentially confusing.

What's the difference between "on hold until" and "pending until"?

"On hold until" suggests a temporary suspension, while "pending until" implies that something is awaiting a decision or resolution. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize suspension or anticipation of a future event.